Coetzee backs his process

Allister Coetzee believes the Stormer’s gameplan does not need adjusting and in fact, a return to the basics will give them some winning momentum.

The Cape Town-based team have lost five games in a row, including all four tour games as well as their opening match against upcoming opponents, the Lions. The Stormers have never been miles away from a win in any of these games, making Coetzee believe that small tweaks in the basics of the game is what is needed to turn around their fortunes. The coach wants his team to stick to the processes he and his coaching staff have put in play since the season began, especially in regards to perfecting their lineout and what they do from turn over possession.

“The processes are right, we just need to execute. “I think our options were always good, our plans were always good but I think the execution is what let us down. “Players are understanding about the importance of getting the processes back on track. “I think that has been the focus, stay process driven to make sure we get our lineout and our set piece functioning again,” Coetzee said. Coetzee believes these factors of the game will be the key to his team scoring more points; if the Stormers simplify their lineout and attack cleverly from turn over ball – they should see more points on the board, according to the coach.

“You have got to make sure that you set piece is functioning and rest will come, we have looked at stats and everything. “If you handle it [your set piece] well you will get your gift possession, which is your turn over possession.” “What I mean by that is, if you utilize it [turn over ball] properly then you give yourself a hell of a good chance of winning any game,” Coetzee added.

It is clear from Coetzee that he hopes the lineout and turnover ball will be a major source of scoring opportunities in the upcoming games. “Lineouts are one of your main sources of scoring opportunities, turn over possession is also one of your big sources of scoring and I think we have not given ourselves the best chances from turn over possession,” the coach said. “Our line out has functioned in some games and not in others so those two platforms alone have denied us opportunities to score from.”

With the Stormers sitting out last weekends action, Coetzee has had some time to reflect on his team’s situation, allowing him to ‘take stock’ of how things have gone. “We are taking stock again of where we are, the personal that we have as well as the team. “We are looking at how the plan suited the personal that we have got. Should we not look at something else and simplify more?

“There is not much change that we can do, but it is just make sure that we hone in on the basics of the game again, that’s why I said the set piece is crucial. “Making use of turn over possession is important because our defense is strong and it gives you access to that platform of deciding what we do with turnover possession,” the coach added

The Stormers have always prided themselves on their defensive style of play, but Coetzee is aware of defensive set piece frailties.

“If you recall, it was our ball, we threw it in [the scrum] and it was not a good scrum,” the coach said when speaking of the try scored by the Waratahs after a ball was badly handled at the base of a scrum inside the Stormers 22. “We conceded 13 points from defensive set pieces last game.

“And then another scrum penalty and another scrum penalty, so that is 13 points from exit set phases.”